An integrated machine learning framework for a discriminative analysis of schizophrenia using multi-biological data.

Finding effective and objective biomarkers to inform the diagnosis of schizophrenia is of great importance yet remains challenging. Relatively little work has been conducted on multi-biological data for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. In this cross-sectional study, we extracted multiple features from three types of biological data, including gut microbiota data, blood data, and electroencephalogram data. Then, an integrated framework of machine learning consisting of five classifiers, three feature selection algorithms, and four cross validation methods was used to discriminate patients with schizophrenia from healthy controls. Our results show that the support vector machine classifier without feature selection using the input features of multi-biological data achieved the best performance, with an accuracy of 91.7% and an AUC of 96.5% (p < 0.05). These results indicate that multi-biological data showed better discriminative capacity for patients with schizophrenia than single biological data. The top 5% discriminative features selected from the optimal model include the gut microbiota features (Lactobacillus, Haemophilus, and Prevotella), the blood features (superoxide dismutase level, monocyte-lymphocyte ratio, and neutrophil count), and the electroencephalogram features (nodal local efficiency, nodal efficiency, and nodal shortest path length in the temporal and frontal-parietal brain areas). The proposed integrated framework may be helpful for understanding the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and developing biomarkers for schizophrenia using multi-biological data.

Divergent Alterations of Structural-Functional Connectivity Couplings in First-episode and Chronic Schizophrenia Patients.

Emerging evidence suggests that the coupling relating the structural connectivity (SC) of the brain to its functional connectivity (FC) exhibits remarkable changes during development, normal aging, and diseases. Although altered structural-functional connectivity couplings (SC-FC couplings) have been previously reported in schizophrenia patients, the alterations in SC-FC couplings of different illness stages of schizophrenia (SZ) remain largely unknown. In this study, we collected structural and resting-state functional MRI data from 73 normal controls (NCs), 61 first-episode (FeSZ) and 78 chronic (CSZ) schizophrenia patients. Positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores were assessed for all patients. Structural and functional brain networks were constructed using gray matter volume (GMV) and resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) time series measurements. At the connectivity level, the CSZ patients showed significantly increased SC-FC coupling strength compared with the FeSZ patients. At the node strength level, significant decreased SC-FC coupling strength was observed in the FeSZ patients compared to that of the NCs, and the coupling strength was positively correlated with negative PANSS scores. These results demonstrated divergent alterations of SC-FC couplings in FeSZ and CSZ patients. Our findings provide new insight into the neuropathological mechanisms underlying the developmental course of SZ.

Embedded Nickel-Mesh Transparent Electrodes for Highly Efficient and Mechanically Stable Flexible Perovskite Photovoltaics: Toward a Portable Mobile Energy Source.

The rapid development of Internet of Things mobile terminals has accelerated the market's demand for portable mobile power supplies and flexible wearable devices. Here, an embedded metal-mesh transparent conductive electrode (TCE) is prepared on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) using a novel selective electrodeposition process combined with inverted film-processing methods. This embedded nickel (Ni)-mesh flexible TCE shows excellent photoelectric performance (sheet resistance of ≈0.2-0.5 Ω sq-1 at high transmittance of ≈85-87%) and mechanical durability. The PET/Ni-mesh/polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS PH1000) hybrid electrode is used as a transparent electrode for perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which exhibit excellent electric properties and remarkable environmental and mechanical stability. A power conversion efficiency of 17.3% is obtained, which is the highest efficiency for a PSC based on flexible transparent metal electrodes to date. For perovskite crystals that require harsh growth conditions, their mechanical stability and environmental stability on flexible transparent embedded metal substrates are studied and improved. The resulting flexible device retains 76% of the original efficiency after 2000 bending cycles. The results of this work provide a step improvement in flexible PSCs.

Fibromodulin is upregulated by oxidative stress through the MAPK/AP-1 pathway to promote pancreatic stellate cell activation.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fibromodulin (FMOD) expression in chronic pancreatitis (CP) tissues and its effect on PSC was unknown. Our aim was to investigate the role of FMOD in regulating PSC profibrogenic phenotype and the molecular mechanism of CP. METHODS: Rat CP models were induced by dibutyltin dichloride. Pancreatic fibrosis was evaluated by Sirius Red staining. The expression of FMOD and α-SMA was measured, the correlation between FMOD expression and fibrosis was investigated in CP models and CP patients. The effects of FMOD on PSCs were examined by CCK-8 and migration assays. We investigated the mechanisms underlying FMOD expression using MND and a MAPK pathway inhibitor. Luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to investigate the effects of AP-1 on FMOD expression. RESULTS: Sirius Red staining revealed high collagen deposition in model rats. Higher expression of FMOD and α-SMA was observed in fibrotic tissues, and the expression of FMOD was correlated with that of α-SMA and the areas of Sirius Red staining. Upregulation of FMOD increased the expression of collagen I and α-SMA and the proliferation and migration of PSCs. MND induced FMOD and α-SMA expression, and knockdown of FMOD abated α-SMA expression. ERK and JNK inhibitors attenuated FMOD expression as induced by MND. AP-1 upregulated the expression of FMOD. AP-1 binds to the FMOD promoter and transcriptionally regulates FMOD expression. CONCLUSION: FMOD levels are upregulated in fibrosis tissues in CP and it is a critical downstream mediator of oxidative stress. FMOD induces PSC activation and maintains the fibrosis phenotype of PSCs.

Repellent activities of essential oils rich in sesquiterpenoids from Saussurea amara (L.) DC. and Sigesbeckia pubescens Makino against two stored-product insects.

The essential oils (EOs) from aerial parts of Saussurea amara (L.) DC. (SAEO) and Sigesbeckia pubescens Makino (SPEO) were analyzed for their chemical composition by GC-MS, and their repellent activities against adults of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst, as well as the booklouse, Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, were evaluated for the first time. Results of GC-MS analysis indicated that both SAEO and SPEO were characterized by high content of sesquiterpenoids (relative content > 70%) including oxygenated sesquiterpenoids. The two oil samples and their major component caryophyllene oxide exerted beneficial repellent effects on T. castaneum and L. bostrychophila at 2 and 4 h post-exposure. At 4 h post-exposure, the PR value of caryophyllene oxide could still reach 92% (class V) against T. castaneum at minimum testing concentration of 3.15 nL/cm2, and this compound was observed to result in the greatest repellency (PR = 100%) against L. bostrychophila at 12.63 nL/cm2. This work confirmed the potent repellent efficacy of SAEO and SPEO for controlling pest damage and suggested their potential to be developed into botanical repellents.

[Rapid identification of Dendrobium plants based on near infrared diffuse reflection spectroscopy].

Near infrared diffuse reflection spectra of 15 species' 171 samples of Dendrobium combined with chemometrics statistical analysis were used to build prediction model, in order to discriminate different species of Dendrobium quickly and nondestructively. Hotelling T2 was applied to stability analysis of spectrum of 5 random drawing samples, and the results showed that the samples spectrum possessed good stability. Orthogonal test L24 (2 x 4 x 3 x 8) was designed to optimize optical path type, spectral band, derivative and smooth. The result of orthogonal test was analyzed by principal component analysis, which revealed that when 6500-4000 cm(-1) spectral band was applied, and with multiplicative scatter correction, second derivative, Norris smooth, and the number of principal components 7, the spectrum distinguishing accuracy was 100%. With the optimized condition of orthogonal test as the input value of partial least squares discriminant analysis and random drawing 123 samples as calibration set to establish the prediction model, and the rest 48 samples as prediction set were use to assess the property of the prediction model, the results indicated that the accumulating contribution rate of the first 3 principal components of the model was 99.36%, the identification of the standard deviation was +/- 0.1, and the correct recognition rate of the model was 97.92%. The results were satisfied. The method provided a new way for the rapid identification of different species of Dendrobium, and also supplied a reference for the authentication of medicinal plants.

Low expression of IGFBP7 is associated with poor outcome of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7(IGFBP7) has been implicated as a potential tumor suppressor in various human cancers, although the role of IGFBP7 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still unknown. We investigated the expression pattern and clinical significance of IGFBP7 in human PDAC. METHODS: IGFBP7 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 190 patients with PDAC who underwent surgical tumor resection. Expression of IGFBP7 was correlated with that of p53 and Ki-67, clinicopathologic features. We also evaluated overall survival (OS) according to expression of IGFBP7 by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: IGFBP7 expression was significantly downregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal pancreas (P < 0.001) and was inversely associated with Ki-67 expression (r = -0.284, P < 0.001). No significant relationships were found for clinicopathologic features, such as diameter of tumor, node status, grade, and stage. Importantly, low expression of IGFBP7 was associated with poor OS, and this was also significant in multivariate Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.38; 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI], 1.00-1.91; P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate for the first time that IGFBP7 is downregulated in pancreatic cancer, and low expression of IGFBP7 is correlated with increased proliferation and poor postoperative survival. IGFBP7 may be a tumor suppressor in PDAC.

[Epidemiological study of high risk human papillomavirus infection in 25 to 54 years old married women in Beijing.].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) prevalence among married women in Beijing and to study the high risk factors. METHODS: During March 2007 to September 2008, a total of 6185 married women sampled from 137 communities in 12 districts were screened by HR-HPV DNA test and cytological test. The interview was carried out with unified questionnaires. The database was set up and twice entered in EpiData 3.0. After checked up, the data were analyzed in SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: (1) The HR-HPV infection rate was 9.89%. The HR-HPV infection rate of the city zone, the suburb and the exurb were 9.34%, 10.51% and 9.51% (P > 0.05). The HR-HPV infection rate of the native and the outlander were 9.53%, 11.30% (P < 0.05). (2) The age distribution of HR-HPV infection was that the rate was around 10% among 25 to 44 age groups, which was the highest (11.21%) in 30 to 34 age group; then the rate was descended as the age raising, the rate of 50 to 54 age group was the lowest (7.78%). (3) Multiple logistic regression showed that the related risk factors of HR-HPV infection mainly included 1000 RMB and above of family income per person per month, possessing more than 1 sexual partner of her husband, outlander and high levels of education. (4) The prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in HR-HPV positive group was significantly higher than that in HR-HPV negative group (29.76% vs 3.32%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: (1) The HR-HPV infection rate among aged 25 to 54 years was 9.9% and there was no significant difference in area distribution. (2) The high risk population which should strengthen screening was the married bearing-age women with high level of family income, outlander, high levels of education and her husband possessing more than 1 sexual partner. (3) HR-HPV infection is the main risk factor for CIN and cervical cancer, while does not provide a causal relationship with them. The high risk population should be checked regularly to understand the development of HR-HPV infection and CIN incidence.